Ben-DutkaVideo Games Live helps prove to the world that gaming has fantastic artistic merits.
But if you want to hear their third album, it's time to ante up and give 'em a boost. VGL has launched a Kickstarter campaign that will hopefully result in "Level 3," the group's third great album.
The award-winning concert event that is created, produced and hosted by world renowned industry veteran Tommy Tallarico features "top orchestras and choirs around the world." They produce amazing pieces that honor some of gaming's best music, and they infuse their own sense of energy and intensity. They need $250,000 so that third album can become available; instead of it being all live performances, this one would be a studio recording. They also want their stretch goals to accommodate a full-length live concert motion picture as well. And that sounds bad-ass.
Consider their position:
"Although VGL has obtained a lot of accolades and success, the music industry and record companies are VERY different and no music or record company is willing to invest the budget needed to accomplish our goals and put out a top quality product that we and the entire game industry can be proud of. They don't believe in the culturally artistic significance of video game music and they don't believe that people are interested in listening after the game is turned off."
And this is the kind of thinking that has to change. Over time, it will. It's just a matter of continuing to support the arts and yes, that includes art in video games. Such a thing exists in spades, people.
Yeah it's time to leave the whole video games as art debate behind, you can't have a creative medium constructed mostly of numerous forms of art and have it not be art.
Best soundtrack this generation: Nier
A great score. VGL should look into doing some of those pieces.
Already pledged on day one, it was my first kickstarter pledge ever.